‘Empire’ Season 2, Episode 17: Sins of a Father

Season 2, Episode 17: ‘Rise by Sin’

The thing about dirt is that no matter how much you clean, traces of it sometimes remain.

Cookie and Lucious initially built Empire from their drug-selling profits. And while they are now protected from the consequences of those misdeeds because of their wealth, it’s not enough. It may never be. “The first family of music” finds itself constantly thwarting and eliminating threats, internal and external, past and present. Occasionally, they succumb to them.

Lucious may be king as Cookie suggests in Wednesday’s episode, the next to last of the season. But it’s often a king’s subjects and those in his inner circle who must atone for his sins. And, on the night of the American Sound Awards, there’s no amount of money that can prevent the latest threat to the Lyon family — Freda Gatz.

The Lyons once again find themselves at the hospital, rallying around each other in the throes of a life-or-death crisis. (It’s honestly getting to be a bit much at this point.) This time they are left to wonder whether or not Jamal will survive injuries sustained from a gunshot wound he got after stepping in front of a bullet meant for Lucious. Suddenly which Lyon will win the biggest American Sound Award of the night — a question that has been a major plot point this season — no longer matters.

To her credit, Cookie recognized Freda’s presence as a threat and made numerous attempts to keep her at a distance. With all the other storms swirling — the music award conflict, Rhonda’s miscarriage, Leah’s re-emergence, Hakeem’s baby and the battle to regain control of Empire — the family has been busy and distracted. But heavy is the head that wears the crown and there are no days off.

Whatever the reason Jamal stepped in front of that bullet, it’s clear that even after all of Lucious’s hurtful words and behavior Jamal still deeply cares for his father. While strapped to a gurney at the hospital on his way to surgery he asks: “What happened? Where is Dad?”

If Lucious is king, then Cookie is queen and Jamal’s blood is on her hands, too. The two of them have come a long way from their time in Philadelphia and the dangers of those from their past seeking revenge. But she’s right, “ain’t nothing changed, really.”

Memorable Lines

• Lucious: “If you heard the things I said to Jamal, maybe it would’ve been better if my mama had drowned me.”

Over the course of the show Lucious has made more progress in his relationship with Jamal than with his other sons. But how do they recover from this? Is it even possible?

• Leah: “You don’t season your food, I’m not eating it.”

Seasoning is your friend. Use it! Mama Walker serves Grade A shade and it’s a moment of lightness in an episode that didn’t have many. Lucious has never had much of a filter in the way he speaks and Leah’s presence provides some insight as to where that comes from. (Side note: What is she going to say in front of the press outside the hospital? Does she tell the truth about her identity or lie to stay closer to her family and maybe blackmail Lucious?)

• Lucious: “The way I see it tonight is our night. This is what we dreamed about.”

The funny thing about dreams is that they rarely mirror reality, no matter how much we hope, wish and prepare. With their celebratory night ruined, do Cookie and Lucious draw closer to each other or place blame on the other over Jamal’s condition?